Evo-Stik NPL Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 9th April 2013, 7.45pm
Gresley Held by Lincoln
It was another frustrating night at the Moat Ground for the Gresley faithful. Changes were made to the side that were beaten by Sutton Coldfield on Saturday with Kristian Cox given a start. Mickey Lyons replaced Dean Rathbone, Richard Hanslow Royce Turville and Gareth Langford coming in for Jamie Barrett. Marc Goodfellow was missing due to an ankle injury.
Lincoln had handed Gresley a spanking when the two sides met at Ashby Avenue back in November and the visitors, who had just five of the team remaining from that day, almost caught their hosts out when Aaron Rice thumped a shot which brought out a brilliant early save from Gary Hateley.
Hanslow whipped in a low cross from the left which Jordan Nadat couldn't quite connect with. Jordi Gough then hit a cracking shot which left United keeper Phil McGann rooted to the spot but unfortunately the wrong side of the upright.
Minutes later Gough was unlucky again this time putting Lyons' cross from the left over the bar with an overhead effort.
Midway through the first half Hateley made what can only be called a breath taking save to keep his side in the game. A cross from the left was headed back across the goal by Luke Shipman to the far post where Brendan McDaid looked certain to head home but for the superb save pushing the ball away.
Another good move from United ended with Scott Coupland firing just wide of the far post but it was Gresley who finished the first half strongest with both Gough and Lyons having shots on target blocked.
Gresley went very close to opening the scoring early in the second half when Gough's cross-cum-shot bounce off the bar but Hanslow could follow up the rebound. Nadat then had a shot saved before perhaps the best chance of the game. Turville, who had replaced Cox ten minutes earlier, was put through but the normally reliable striker somehow missed his kick and the chance was gone.
United frustrated the home side with some dogged and determined defending which Gresley continued to find extremely difficult to break down.
A free kick from Hateley was headed down by Michael Nottingham for Gough to volley just wide of the far post. Gresley then made a quick break with Nadat flying down the right before picking out Turville who appeared to hit the base of the upright with his effort from close in.
Manager's View
"With the nil-nil score line played on a bobbly surface you could say it was a typical end of season affair but having been involved for the ninety minutes from the touch line both sides were trying very, very hard to get the break through and you would have thought both sides were going hell for leather for it really.
"I felt there was more endeavour than quality without a shadow of a doubt. Mickey Lyons summed it up when he came off with fifteen minutes to go when he said even Messi couldn't have played on that pitch tonight it was so bobbly. To be honest it did affect the quality of the game which was a same.
"There were a number times, Royce has gone through and he fell over and the ball bobbled and there were one or two other things where mistakes were made because the ball bobbled. But, these are the sorts of pitches you get at the end of the season when they are dry but given the recent weather we've had I'm surprised how dry but both sides have got to play on it. Both sides tried hard but didn't get the breakthrough.
"We've tried something new tonight with a back three and bearing in mind they were very positive in their approach with a four-four-three so for large parts of the game our back three were marking three on three and we decided to keep it that way and I think they deserve a mention tonight.
"Gareth Langford has come in and done a very good job in the middle of the park for us. Kristian has done a decent job on the right hand side and worked very hard and showed some promise going forward and backwards. So, yes we swapped it around a little bit.
"I thought we did alright tonight but we just seem to be struggling with a lack of confidence or a bit of luck. Royce hit the post after Jordan had worked very hard and got injured and he thinks he should have put that one away. On another day it would have hit the inside of the post and gone in and we'd have won the game one-nil but it wasn't to be tonight but it wasn't for the want of trying!
"Jordi Gough was absolutely outstanding. I was screaming to try and get the ball out to Jordi more often and he's run himself into the ground this evening. Earlier in the season when I wanted to look at Jordi further forward I think it was against Mickelover when we played him on the left wing and put someone else in at left back it didn't quite work for us on that occasion.
"For me there is one area I want Jordi to work on was going forward this season and he's done that. There are some bits and bobs he can improve on, the quality in the final third whether it be a pass or a shot but he was absolutely outstanding tonight and for me he was man-of-the-match by a mile.
"I thought their number six (David Hone) had a cracking game as well. Good battle against Jordi and Jordan Nadat as well and Hone played well against those two who have pace. Jordi had four or five half decent opportunities tonight and was unlucky not to score with one of them."
